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HMV shocked by Pryde's sudden departure.
HMV is vowing it is firmly "business as usual", despite being rocked by the sudden departure of Europe managing director David Pryde.
Staff are still coming to terms with the unexpected news that Pryde had resigned for what is being explained as "personal reasons". He had been with the company all his working career, having joined as a graduate trainee 18 years ago.
The company stresses his departure is "absolutely not business- or preformance-related".
HMV, viewed as one of the most solid businesses within the UK music industry, moved immediately to plug the gap by replacing Pryde with Steve Knott, managing director of sister operation Waterstone's. Knott, who formally takes up the job on April 14, is a familiar face around the business, having previously spent nine years working at HMV in the UK and Germany.
HMV Group chief operations officer Brian McLaughlin, whom Pryde succeeded in the role at the beginning of 2001, says the board were "very shocked" when he told them the news last Monday.
"From a personal point of view my relationship with David ...